Is Today's Philanthropy Failing Beneficiaries? Always a Risk,But Not for the Most Part

Abstract

In this commentary, the author highlights some ideas contained in his paper with Ostrander that Ostrander does not explore but that undergird and support their thinking about why the issue of control is so consequential. Philanthropy is in fact donor led and thus always potentially open to donor control rather than care. Second, the author addresses the criterion whereby philanthropy and the supply-side influence can eventuate in care rather than control if philanthropy meets the true needs of the beneficiaries. The author next offers an array of observations that make him hesitant about Ostrander's argument. He agrees with Ostrander on the importance of donors meeting the true needs of recipients but is not convinced that she is correct about this not happening regularly, even in regard to the new forms of philanthropy and advisement she analyzes.